Maria Mahar, MA, RD, CDN
District: CNYDA

Maria Mahar is a Nutrition Services Coordinator at the Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth, she oversees agencies that provide home-delivered meals and congregate meals for seniors. She was instrumental in implementing the Farmers Market Mobile Market program, a program that provides access to produce from local farmers to senior housing and centers who have limited access to fresh produce. She also conducts cooking classes for the community such Men Can Cook, and Cooking for Diabetics. Besides being President-Elect for NYSDA, Maria has served as Annual Meeting Chair, Secretary and Delegate. She was awarded the 2010 NYSDA Emerging Dietetic Leader Award. She is a graduate of State University of New York in Oneonta and completed her graduate work at Syracuse University. She also serves as an executive board member for the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services and the Central New York Regional Farmers Market Authority.

Mary (Pia) DiMarzio, MS, RD, CDN
District: WNYDA

Bio coming soon....

Susan Branning, MBA, RD, CDN, CNSC
District: CNYDA

Susan has worked for Morrison Healthcare for over 14 years. She is currently the Clinical Nutrition Manager with Morrisons at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse NY.

Susan graduated from Penn State University with a BS in Nutrition, completed her Dietetic Internship with United Health Services Hospitals in Johnson City, NY, and received her MBA from Colorado State University.

Prior to joining the NYSDA Board of Directors, Susan was actively involved in the Southern Tier Dietetic Association for over ten years, holding various leadership offices including President. She received the Recognized Young Dietitian Award from NYSDA in 1999 and attended the ADA Leadership Institute in 2008. Susan is an avid sports fan and enjoys traveling, reading, and cooking in her spare time.

Amy Marlow, MPH, RD, CDN

Amy Marlow is a nutrition consultant and wellness professional in Westchester County. She currently works as a Benefits Specialist, helping to manage MetLife’s employee wellness program and other health-related benefit programs. Amy also serves as the Nutrition Advisor for HAPPYBABY, the organic baby and toddler food company, and she is the co-author, with Dr. Robert Sears, of “HAPPYBABY: The Organic Guide to Baby’s First 24 Months” (Harper Collins, 2009). She has worked as a pediatric dietitian at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC, and has consulted for the National Cancer Institute's 5-A-Day program.

Amy has held many positions at the state and local dietetic association levels. She has been the Public Relations Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Pediatric Special Interest Group Chair for the Greater New York Dietetic Association and has served as Membership Chair and Nominating Committee Chair for NYSDA. Amy was a recipient of NYSDA’s Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award in 2007.

Keri Gans, MS, RD, CDN
District: GNYDA, LIDA

Keri Gans is a nutrition consultant, speaker, and spokesperson in private practice in New York City. Her first book “The Small Change Diet” was published by Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster) Spring 2011. She is frequently quoted in local and national publications, such as Glamour, Fitness, Shape, Self, Health, WebMD and has made several television appearances including EXTRA, The Dr. Oz Show, ABC News, Primetime, FOX News, and Good Morning America. Keri is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s Dr. Radio program and has conducted numerous other radio interviews across the country. She was the weekly host of Manhattan’s public access TV show Diet Diva for more than five years. Keri is a past ADA National Spokesperson and past President of the New York State Dietetic Association. Keri received the NYSDA’s 2010 Media Excellence Award and the 2006 Emerging Dietetic Leader Award. Keri completed a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Ohio University and a Masters Degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University.

J. Elizabeth Smythe, RD, CDN, CPT
District: GDA, STDA, WNYDA

J. Elizabeth Smythe (Beth) is a nutrition consultant and private practitioner in the Rochester area who specializes in weight management, nutrition and wellness. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer. Beth began her private practice in 1999. She has worked as a nutrition and wellness consultant for a privately owned supermarket chain, regularly speaks for organizations and corporations on nutrition, health and wellness issues, and is regularly seen on a local news program.

As an active volunteer, she has held many positions on both her state and local dietetic associations' boards. As an active member of the NYSDA board she is President and a Media Representative. Previous positions held include Legislative Network Coordinator and District President Representative. On the local level, Beth is Past President, Public Relations Chair and Fundraising Chair for the Genesee Dietetic Association.
Beth is also the recipient of the NYSDA's Emerging Leader Award

Sandra McNeil, MA, RD, CDN, FADA, DHCFA
District: CNYDA, MRDA

Sandra is a Registered Dietitian with thirty-seven years experience in the healthcare industry. This includes positions in critical care, renal, long-term care, and management. In addition she has experience in day care, home care, and corrections and public health.

Currently, she is the Clinical Manager of Nutrition and Diabetes at Glens Falls Hospital and manages a staff of both RDs and RNs. Prior to this she was Associate Director of Food and Nutrition Services at UNC in Chapel Hill, NC.

She has attained her undergraduate degree in Food and Nutrition and a graduate degree in Administration and Leadership, both from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.

She is currently serving on the NYSDA Board of Directors as Public Policy Coordinator. She also serves on the American Dietetic Association, Scope of Practice Committee. She was awarded the NYS Distinguished Dietitian Award in 2008.

She is a “Fellow of the American Dietetic Association” and is a member of several practice groups. She is also a past member of the Board of Directors for JDRF, and a “Distinguished-level” member of ASHFSA serving on both the publications committee and the scholarship committees in the past. She is also a member of AHF. In the past she has served as Reimbursement Chair for HVDA and Media Representative for HVDA!

Donna L. Acox, MA, MS, RD, CDN
District: CNYDA

Bio coming soon.

Barbara Baron, MS, RD, CDN
District: GNYDA

Barbara Baron is a registered dietitian and Director of Health Professional Communications for the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council, Inc. (ADADC), a non-profit nutrition education organization recognized as an educational-scientific institution by the Federal Government. Ms. Baron conducts seminars and develops messages about dairy’s health and nutrition benefits to physicians, dietitians and community health leaders. She also serves as a nutrition expert and spokesperson conducting interviews with media and explaining dietary information in easy-to-understand terms.

Prior to joining Dairy Council, Ms. Baron worked as a clinical dietitian at The Hospital for Special Surgery, specializing in osteoporosis, orthopedic and rheumatic diseases. She is a member of several practice groups within The American Dietetic Association including Sports and Cardiovascular Nutrition; Pediatric Nutrition; Food & Culinary Professionals; Woman and Reproductive Nutrition; and served as Chair, Speakers Bureau, Nutrition Education of the Public, 2006-2007

Ms. Baron completed her Dietetic Internship at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics/Dietetics from Hunter College in New York City, and a Master of Science degree in Nutrition and Physical Fitness from New York University. She is Past President of the New York State Dietetic Association; was awarded The Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the American Dietetic Association in 1994, and the Distinguished Dietitian of the Year from the Greater New York Dietetic Association in 2002.

Eden Kalman, MA, RD, CDN
District: GNYDA

Eden is the Director of Food and Nutrition Services at Hospital for Special Surgery, which specializes in orthopedics and rheumatology and is located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

A graduate of the University of California (Davis, California), she completed her internship at St. Louis University (St. Louis, Missouri) and her Masters Degree in Food Service Administration at New York University (New York, New York).

Eden has a long standing commitment to both the New York State and Greater New York Dietetic Associations. She has held numerous positions including President (both GNYDA and NYSDA), Delegate, Annual Meeting Co-chair (twice), and Bylaws Handbook Chair. In conjunction with a Big Brothers Big Sisters workplace mentoring program, she is a “big sister” to a New York City High School Student.

Eden is the proud recipient of the RYDY, GNYDA Distinguished, NYSDA Distinguished awards.

Eden lives with her husband, 5 cats and 1 dog in River Vale, New Jersey.